Holder for can bodies



April 7, 1964 c. T. WALTER HOLDER FOR CAN BODIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 1, 1960 CHARLfS T M44472? IN V EN TOR.

April 7, 1964 c. T. WALTER 3,128,119

' HOLDER FOR CAN BODIES Filed June 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

CHAR4$ T ,VVAZJZQ IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,128,119 Patented Apr. 7, 1964 3,128,1wHQLDER FOR CAN BUDEES Charles T. Waiter, Lemont, 113., assignor toContinental Can Company, line, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled lune 1, 196GB, Ser. No. 33,330 11 Claims. (Cl. 29499) Thisinvention relates in general to new and useful improvements in means forconveying can bodies, and more particularly relates to a novel holderfor can bodies.

It has been proposed to provide aluminum can bodies wherein the canbodies are extruded and have integral bottoms. When these can bodies areused as containers for certain products, for example beer, it isnecessary that the interiors thereof be lacquered. In a can lacqueringoperation, the lacquer is sprayed onto the surfaces of the can body,after which the lacquered can body is passed through an oven toaccelerate the curing of the lacquer. In order to accomplish both thespraying and lacquer curing operation, it is necessary that the canbodies be carried by suitable conveyors and the can bodies be disposedin holders of the conveyors which are particularly designed for ease ofinsertion and removal of the can bodies.

Conventional spring loaded holders have proved to be unsatisfactory forholding aluminum can bodies in that in order for the holders to properlyhold the can bodies, they must exert a considerable pressure on the sidewalls of the can bodies. When too much pressure is exerted on the sidewall of an aluminum can body remote from the bottom, as in the case of aholder exerting a sufficient holding pressure on the can body, and thealuminum can body is conveyed through an oven and subjectedtotemperatures in the range of 400 to 500 degrees F., 'at whichtemperatures the aluminum of the can body becomes slightlythermoplastic, the pressure will indent the side wall of the can body.On the other hand, if the gripping pressure of the holder on the canbody is reduced, insuflicient pressure is exerted on the can body toproperly retain it in the holder.

In view of the foregoing, it is the object of the present invention toprovide a holder for can bodies which is of a configuration to firmlygrip a can body so as to retain the can body Within the confinesthereof, and at the same time so apply the gripping pressure on the canbody that even when the can body is heated to a temperature in thevicinity of 500 degrees F. and the aluminum thereof becomes slightlythermoplastic, the pressure exerted on the can body by the holder willnot prove to be detrimental.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for can bodieshaving ends, the holder being particularly designed to grip the can bodyfor a large portion of the height thereof to provide the necessarycontact between the holder and the can body, and at the same time toapply the maximum holding pressure on the can body adjacent the endthereof so that the end of the can body reinforces the can body sidewall and thus prevents indentation of the side wall where engaged by theholder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel can body holderwhich includes a generally U-shaped metal clip formed of a spring metaland having a back and side walls, the back and side walls being disposedparallel to the axis of the holder and the side walls being inconverging relation, the back and side walls carrying plastic stripswhich are engageable with a can body for elfectively gripping the canbody without marring the exterior surface thereof, and the plasticstrips carried by the side walls having converging surfaces whereby asthe holder grips a can body, and the gripping surfaces of the stripscarried by the side wall assume parallel positions, a maximum grippingis effected at those ends of the strips having an initial minimumspacing, thus localizing the maximum gripping pressure on a can body sothat the gripping pressure of the holder may be exerted on a can body atan end thereof reinforced by an end wall that is in place on the canbody.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel conveyor for canbodies, the conveyor including an endless chain formed of a plurality oflinks, mounting brackets carried by certain of the links, and canholders carried by the mounting brackets, each of the mounting bracketsincluding a plate having notched edges defining opposed seats, and eachof the can body holders including a spring clip having a back andconverging sides, the back being provided with opposed retainers wln'chare seated in the seats of the mounting bracket to releasably retain thecan body holder in place thereon.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims, and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the can body holder, and shows the relativepositions of the can body engaging strips carried by the spring clip.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the can body holder of FIGURE 1, andshows further the details thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 1, and shows a can bodyengaged within the can body holder.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the can body holder and can bodyassembly of FIGURE 3, and shows furtherthe relationship of the can bodyholder with respect to the can body.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the canbody holder, and shows the manner in which it is attached to a mountingbracket.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a portion of a conveyor incorporating the canbody holders and shows a series of mounting brackets carried by thechain of the conveyor.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the conveyor chain and mountingbrackets carried thereby, with the can body holders omitted to show thedetails of the individual mounting brackets.

Reference is first made to FIGURES 1 through 5, inclusive, of thedrawings, wherein the details of one of the can body holders areillustrated. The can body holder is generally referred to by the numeral10, and includes a generally U-shaped clip, which clip is generallyreferred to by the numeral 11. The clip 11 is formed of a spring metaland includes a back 12 and a pair of sides 13, which sides 13 areconnected to the back 12 by arcuate intermediate portions 14. The back12 and the' sides 13 are disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe clip 11, with all lines extending axially along the surfaces of theback 12, the sides 13 and the intermediate portions 14 being disposed inparallel relation. The intermediate portions 14 extend through an anglein excess of 90 degrees, with the result that the sides 13 convergetowards each other.

I In order that the clip 11 may be suitably supported in a manner to bedescribed in detail hereinafter, a retainer 15 extends rearwardly fromthe back 12 at the upper end thereof, as is best shown in FIGURE 1.Also, a second retainer 16 extends rearwardly of the back 12 at thelower end thereof. The retainer 16 is best illustrated in FIGURE 5. Theretainers 15 and 16 are disposed in opposed relation, and the retainer15 has a downwardly directed intermediate rib 17 which opposes anupwardly directed intermediate rib 18 on the retainer 16. The ribs 17and 15 are spaced rearwardly of the back 12. The retainers 15, 16 areprovided with aligned pin receiving openings 20.

A can body engaging strip or rib 21 is secured to the forward face ofthe back 12 along the longitudinal center line of the back 12. The strip21 is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending pins 22 (see FIGUREThe pins 22 extend rearwardly through sleeved openings 23 in the back12, with the material of the sleeved openings 23 gripping andinterlocking with the pins 22 to retain the pins 22 and the strip 21 inplace.

A pair of can body engaging strips or ribs 24 are carried by the sides13. The strips 24 are disposed along the terminal edges of the sides 13remote from the back 12. Each of the strips 24 is provided with a pairof vertically spaced pins 25 which extend outwardly from the rear orouter surface of the respective strip 24, as is best shown in FIGURE 2.The pins 25 pass through sleeved openings 26, with the material of thesleeves 26 engaging and interlocking with the pins 25 to resist theremoval of the strips 24. Although the strips 21 and 24 are securelyconnected to the clip 11, it is to be understood that they are readilyremovable and replaceable.

It is to be understood that the strips 21 and 24 engage can bodies andso support the can bodies by a gripping action. In order to prevent themarring of the can bodies and at the same time to provide for arelatively tight gripping thereof, it is necessary that the strips 21 beformed of a Wear resistant, flexible and relatively soft material.Plastic materials are suitable for this purpose, and a plastic materialsuch as Teflon is preferred.

The strip 21 is generally of a rectangular cross-section, and is of aconstant thickness throughout its length, as is best illustrated inFIGURE 5. Accordingly, the can body engaging surface of the strip 21 isdisposed parallel to the back 12. On the other hand, the strips 24 havecan body engaging surfaces which converge upwardly, as is bestillustrated in FIGURE 2. Thus, when a can body, such as the can body Cof FIGURES 3 and 4, is positioned within the holder and the strips 21,24 engage the side wall of the can body C, the can body engagingsurfaces of the strip 24 will assume parallel positions, as is bestillustrated in FIGURE 4. This results in the outward deflection of theupper portions of the sides 13, as opposed to the lower portions of thesides 13. As a result, the upper portions of the strips 24 more tightlygrip the can bodies C than the lower portions of the strips 24. This ishighly desirable.

The can body C illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 is an extruded aluminumcan body. The can body C has a bottom end 27 formed integrallytherewith. When the can body C is positioned within the holder 10, thecan body is inverted, with the result that the bottom end 27 is disposeduppermost, and the upper end of the inverted can body is disposedgenerally flush with the upper end of the holder 10. As a result, amaximum gripping pressure is applied on the side walls of the can body Cat the point where it is reinforced by the bottom end 27 thereof. Thispermits the necessary pressure gripping of the side wall of the can bodyC without the application of un- 4 due pressures in the central portionsof the side wall, where such pressure might result in the undueindenting of the side wall, thus to avoid indenting of the side wall.

In order to insure against the central portion of a can body Caccidentally becoming dislodged from within the confines of the holder1%, the lower portions of the strips are provided with forwardlyprojecting extensions or portions 23. These extensions 28 extend wellbeyond the forward edges of the sides 13, and lightly grip the can bodyto prevent any accidental outward swinging of the lower end of the canbody.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 6, wherein there is illustrated aportion of a conveyor embodying the can body holders 11), the conveyorbeing generally referred to by the numeral 319. The conveyor 30 includesan endless chain, generally referred to by the numeral 31. The chain 31is formed of a plurality of links 32 with adjacent ones of the linksbeing connected together alternatingly by vertical pins 34 andhorizontal pins 33 so as to be of the swivel type. It is to be notedthat each of the links 32 is of the type which includes an upstandingweb 35 to which there is connected a pair of horizontally disposed legs36 which are spaced apart, and together with the web 35 define agenerally C-shaped outline. Also, a pair of vertical legs 37 areconnected to each web 35 and extend in a longitudinal direction oppositefrom the direction of extent of the legs 36. The legs 37, together withthe web 35, also define a generally C-shaped arrangernent.

The uppermost horizontal leg 36 of certain of the links 32 is enlargedto facilitate the supporting of a mounting bracket. In the presentarrangement, three separate mounting brackets are utilized. Thesemounting brackets include a central mounting bracket, generally referredto by the numeral 38, a left hand mounting bracket generally referred toby the numeral 40, and a right hand mounting bracket generally referredto by the numeral 41. The series of mounting brackets 38, 40 and 41 isrepeated throughout the length of the chain 31.

The mounting bracket 38 includes a large plate 42 which is secured tothe enlarged leg 36 of its respective chain link 32 by a pair of rivets43. The plate 42 also has a large opening 44 for clearing the head of apin 34 which underlies the same. An upstanding plate 45 is integrallyconnected to one end of the plate 42 and the angle between the plates42, 45 is reinforced by a gusset 46 which is formed from the materialsof the plates 42, 45.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 7, the plate 45 has a shallow notch inthe upper edge thereof defining a seat 47. A relatively deep notch isformed in the lower portion of the plate 45 to define a seat 48. A pairof openings 49 are formed in the plate in alignment with the seats 47,48.

The mounting bracket 41 includes a narrow plate 50 which is secured tothe enlarged leg 36 of its respective link 32 by means of rivets 51. Theplate 51) is also provided with an enlarged opening 52 to provideclearance for the head of the pin 34 which underlies the plate 50.

A second plate 53 is integrally connected to the plate 50 and extendsupwardly therefrom along one edge thereof. The connection between theplates 51) and 53 is reinforced by means of an integral gusset 54 whichis pressed from the materials of the plates 50, 53.

As is best shown in FIGURE 7, the plate 53 is much wider than the plate511, and projects to the left thereof. That portion of the plate 53disposed to the left of the plate 50 is provided with a shallow notch onthe upper edge thereof defining an upper seat 55. A deeper notch isformed in the lower edge of the plate 53 in alignment with the seat 55to define a lower seat 56. A pair of openings 57 are formed in the plate53 in alignment with the seats 55, 56.

The mounting bracket 41 includes a relatively narrow plate 58. The plate58 overlies and is secured to the enlarged leg 36 of its respective link32 by means of rivets 60. The plate 58 is also provided with an enlargedopening 61 to provide clearance for the head of the pin 34 whichunderlies the plate 58.

A relatively wide plate 62 is integrally connected to the plate 58 alongone edge thereof and projects upwardly therefrom. The connection betweenthe plates 58 and 62 is reinforced by an integral gusset 63 pressed fromthe material of the plates 58, 62.

As is best illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, the plate 62 extends to theright of the plate 58. The upper portion of that part of the plate 62which projects to the right of the plate 58 is provided with a shallownotch defining a seat 64. A lower seat 65 is formed in the lower portionof the extending portion of the plate 62 in alignment with the seat 64.A pair of openings 66 are formed in the plate 62 in alignment with theseats 64, 65.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 5, which illustrates a typical mountingof one of the holders 10 on one of the mounting brackets, the mountingbracket illustrated being the mounting bracket 41. The retainers and 16engage the seats 64, 65 with the projections or ribs 17, 18 being lockedbehind the plate 62. At the same time, the pins 22 and the sleevedportions of the sleeve openings 23 project through the openings 66 inthe plate 62. The resiliency of the retainers 15, 16 normally Will besutficient to releasably retain a holder 10 in place. However, in orderto assure against the accidental disengagement of one of the holders 10,an elongated headed pin 67 is passed through the aligned openings in theretainers 15 and 16 rearwardly of the plate 62.

It is to be understood that the conveyor 39 may be used for conveyingcan bodies, such as the can body C, through any desired mechanism.However, the conveyor is particularly adapted for conveying aluminum canbodies of the type illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 through ovens. On theother hand, can bodies other than extruded aluminum can bodies may besupported by the holders 10. For example, a conventional can body havingone end seamed thereto may be readily supported by the holder 10.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageousprovision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However,attention is again directed to the fact that variations may be made inthe example apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A can body holder comprising a spring clip of a generally U-shapedcross section in a transverse plane and having a longitudinal axisnormal to said transverse plane, said spring clip including a back andtwo sides, said back and sides having can body engageable portions withcan body engageable faces, said faces of said side portions beingdisposed in longitudinal converging relation with respect to saidlongitudinal axis.

2. A can body holder comprising a spring clip of a generally U-shapedcross section in a transverse plane and having a longitudinal axisnormal to said transverse plane, said spring clip including a back andtwo sides, said sides having can body engaging portions with can bodyengaging faces, said engaging faces being disposed in longitudinalconverging relation with respect to said longitudinal axis; said canbody engaging portions having outwardly projecting parts thereon toprevent any accidental outward swinging of the can body from the canholder.

3. A can body holder comprising a spring clip of a generally U-shapedcross section in a transverse plane and having a longitudinal axisnormal to said transverse plane, said spring clip including alongitudinally extending back and two longitudinally extending sides,rigid V 6 can body engaging portions attached along said back and saidsides; said portions providing for longitudinal line contact, with a canbody, along said back and along said two sides; can body engaging faceson said engaging portions, said engaging faces converging along saidlongitudinal axis, whereby when a can body is disposed Within saidholder said faces are forced apart and different pressures are exertedon the can body at longitudinally spaced points.

4. A can body holder of claim 3 wherein said can body engaging portionof said back is located centrally of said back and said can bodyengaging portions of said sides are disposed along terminal edges ofsaid sides re mote from said back.

5. The can body holder of claim 3 wherein said can body engagingportions are formed of soft wear resistant plastic.

6. The can body holder of claim 3 wherein said can body engagingportions are formed of polytetrafluoroethylene.

7. The can body holder of claim 3 wherein said can body engagingportions have a pair of projecting pins, said sides and back haveopenings therein whereby said pins passing through said openings, attachthe body engaging portions to the said clip.

8. A can body holder comprising a spring clip of a generally U-shapedcross section in a transverse plane and having a longitudinal axisnormal to said transverse plane, said spring clip including a back andtwo sides, said back and sides having can body engageable portions withcan body engageable faces, said faces of said side portions beingdisposed in longitudinal converging relation with respect to saidlongitudinal axis, and opposed retainers on said back disposed outwardlyof the general confines of said holder for releasably mounting the clipon a support.

9. A can body holder comprising a clip formed of a spring material andincluding a fiat back and converging flat sides connected to said backby arcuate intermediate portions, and can body engaging strips extendingaxially along inner surfaces of said back and sides, said side stripshaving axially converging can body engaging surfaces whereby when a canbody is disposed within said clip and said can body engaging surfacesare parallel to each other a greater pressure is exerted on a can bodyby the normally more closely spaced portions of said side strip can bodyengaging surfaces, said side strips each having corresponding first endsand second ends, said first ends normally being spaced apart furtherthan said second ends, and outwardly projecting portions on each of saidfirst ends to prevent any accidental outward swinging of the can bodyfrom within the holder.

10. In a can body conveyor of the type for conveying can bodies throughan oven wherein the can bodies are subjected to high temperatures, andwhich includes an endless chain formed of a plurality of interconnectedlinks with certain of said links carrying mounting brackets for can bodyholders; the improvement comprising: a plate portion fixedly connectedto each mounting bracket and extending angularly therefrom along oneedge thereof and having notched edges defining opposed seats; a can bodyholder carried by each of said mounting brackets; each holder includinga general U-shaped clip having a back and converging sides, and opposedretainers projecting rearwardly from said back and seated in said seatsto releasably retain each holder in place on its respective mountingbracket.

11. In a can body conveyor of the type for conveying can bodies throughan oven wherein the can bodies are subjected to high temperatures, andwhich includes an endless chain formed of a plurality of interconnectedlinks with certain of said links carrying mounting brackets for can bodyholders; the improvement comprising: a plate portion fixedly connectedto each mounting bracket and extending angularly therefrom along oneedge and having notched edges defining opposed seats; a can body holdercarried by each of said mounting brackets; each holder including agenerally U-shaped clip having a back and converging sides and opposedretainers projecting rearwardly from said back and seated in said seatsto releasably retain each holder in place on its respective mountingbracket, and can body engaging strips extending axially along the innersurfaces of said back and sides, said side stnips having axiallyconverging can body engaging surfaces whereby when a can body isdisposed within said clip and said can body engaging surfaces areparallel to each other a greater pressure is' exerted on the can body bythe normally more closely spaced portions of said side strip can bodyengaging surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCampbell May 26, 1931 Christensen .et a1 Aug. 2, 1938 Kur-arth Aug. 5,1941 IStabler Aug. 17, 1948 Broersma Nov. 22, 1949 Ward June 3, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 6, 1956

1. A CAN BODY HOLDER COMPRISING A SPRING CLIP OF A GENERALLY U-SHAPEDCROSS SECTION IN A TRANSVERSE PLANE AND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXISNORMAL TO SAID TRANSVERSE PLANE, SAID SPRING CLIP INCLUDING A BACK ANDTWO SIDES, SAID BACK AND SIDES HAVING CAN BODY ENGAGEABLE PORTIONS WITHCAN BODY ENGAGEABLE FACES, SAID FACES OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS BEINGDISPOSED IN LONGITUDINAL CONVERGING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAIDLONGITUDINAL AXIS.